"Oh man. Out in the woods, there's so much sand," added O'Loughlin, the boys winner (17:16). "And when you try to make those sharp turns, you just keep on slipping in the sand and it really slows you down."

At least Snyder and O'Loughlin -- and their teams -- know what they're in for next weekend. The makeshift course behind Anclote High also will serve as site of the Region 3 meet. The top three teams and top 13 individuals from Thursday's meet qualified.

Snyder, who won her second consecutive Hillsborough County title two weeks ago, essentially led wire to wire. O'Loughlin began slightly behind Middleton freshman Daniel Dean, who typically breaks out fast, before overtaking him the first mile. Dean placed fourth.

"I tried to stay behind him," said O'Loughlin, whose squad put five runners in the top 14 to coast to the team title. "But at the beginning I noticed that...either he wasn't feeling well or he just hadn't run on this course before because he was running pretty slow."

Berkeley Prep's girls (pictured) successfully stayed in a pack to claim their first team crown in more than a half-decade. The top five Buccaneers runners placed in the top nine led by Georgette Price and Gillian Cline, fourth and fifth, respectively.

Colleen Doherty's day, by contrast, didn't transpire as successfully.

The reigning district champion and state medalist from Holy Names, who hadn't run in roughly two months due to a stress fracture in her lower leg, finished 10th and appeared in noticeable pain at the finish line.

Because she ran only once during the regular season, Doherty had to receive a hardship waiver from the FHSAA to compete in Thursday's race. Her status for the region meet is uncertain. "It's a little bit of a question right now," coach Ray Rodriguez said.

The North Suncoast qualified no teams -- and only three individuals -- for regionals. Running on his home course, Anclote 6-foot-6 senior Spencer Guerette finished 22 seconds behind O'Loughlin to place second.

"I didn't push the last mile hard enough and it bit me in the butt," Guerette said. "It kind of makes me a little more fired up for next week."

Wesley Chapel senior Alyssa Turner (13th in girls) and Fivay junior Kenneth Walker (ninth in boys) were the North Suncoast's only other qualifiers.